LRT: City not 'ready to go'
LRT: City not 'ready to go'
York Region gets a leg up
October 16, 2008
Rachel De Lazzer
The Hamilton Spectator
(Oct 16, 2008)
Metrolinx chairman Rob MacIsaac says Hamilton has made a great pitch for funding for rapid transit but "that's different than being ready to go."
At a Spectator editorial board meeting on Tuesday, he pointed to York Region as an example of being ready. He said the first projects to be funded in the Metrolinx budget are likely Toronto projects.
York has already done environmental assessments.
York Region got a head start on its rapid transit plan back in 2001.
One of the first things it did was pull together a consortium of planning, engineering and construction firms, says Mary-Frances Turner, vice-president of the York Region Rapid Transit Corporation.
The corporation was created by the region solely to advance rapid transit there.
In September 2005, it kicked off the first phase of its rapid transit plan with buses that operate in mixed traffic.
Today, it has 135,000 riders a day.
It's pushing Metrolinx for funding to extend Toronto's two subway lines to Highway 7 and move its rapid transit buses into their own dedicated bus lanes.
Hamilton started studying rapid transit for Hamilton in November 2007. Since then, it has compiled a feasibility study, including public consultation with the community, says Jill Stephen, manager of strategic planning.
"We've gone from basically scratch to having studies where we know where rapid transit could fit, what it would look like, what the impacts would be," Stephen said.
-- Rachel De Lazzer, The Hamilton Spectator
Where councillors stand on rapid transit
THREE
Three -- Brad Clark, Sam Merulla and Lloyd Ferguson -- said they still support rapid transit but only with full capital funding from Metrolinx.
Eight councillors -- Brian McHattie, Bernie Morelli, Russ Powers, David Mitchell, Maria Pearson, Scott Duvall and Bob Bratina -- suggested their support of the project without full Metrolinx capital funding depended on several factors, such as how much the city would have to pay. McHattie and Powers said Metrolinx should cover at least two-thirds of the cost.
Monday, the public works committee votes whether city staff should continue to work with Metrolinx on LRT plans. Council votes Oct. 29.
Councillor Terry Whitehead said before replying to the poll, he wanted more details on why York had more infrastructure in place on rapid transit than Hamilton.
Tom Jackson, Robert Pasuta and Margaret McCarthy did not respond.